Half my face hurts

[MrsChemist]

I've had a horrendous cold for over a week now, it's slowly going, but for the past day or so, my right side of my face really hurts. It's mostly in my temple, but as a result has spread to my nostril, upper jaw, eye and ear. If I lean forward, it hurts more.

I'm concerned that it's something else (like toothache or ear infection) and not just the remnants of a cold that refuses to die.
I did go to see my GP about 5 days ago about my ear hurting, and he said it was just inflamed with the pressure, but come back if it still hurts because then it could be infected.

Has anyone else experienced this? It's bloody awful and painkillers aren't touching it much (I'm pregnant so can only take paracetamol)

Sinusitis, undoubtedly. Try steam inhalation, ideally with olbas oil in it, and see GP tomorrow. Sympathies, it isn't fun!

I agree, sounds like sinusitis. If it goes on too long/ steam inhalation doesn't help, I would go back to the doctors as sometimes with sinusitis you can get secondary infections.
Oh, just read your post again and see you are pregnant.. I would have a chat to your doctor on Monday. If you don't want to go in to surgery most doctor surgeries do phone consultations too. By phone at least you could discuss whether you need to go in to surgery. However, fingers crossed you will feel a bit better by Monday.

I would actually go, as you may well need antibiotics.

You are probably right Fanjo. Best to be safe...

I think so, especially since GP already said to go back if the pain continued.

shingles?

Thanks everyone. Doubt it's shingles, it's not my skin that hurts, more the inside of my head. I'll phone the GP tomorrow and get another appointment

from what I have heard from my uncle who had it recently, shingles goes much deeper in pain than skin, but hope it isn't for your sake anyway!

I currently have sinusitis with exactly the pain you describe. According to practice nurse the first course of treatment is usually over the counter pain meds and sinus meds as it usually isn't an infection just a blockage. She did give me antibiotics though as I had had a filling - antibiotics have now finished and I still have the pain. After googling it, it may last another week or more! Aaargh!

Good luck MrsChemist - it is horrid isn't it?

Unfortunately Sinusitis is something I am way TOO experienced in suffered for years & have a chronic sinus disease DX as a result, & regularly get infections, & as has already been said, as you describe your problem, it sounds EXACTLY like a Sinusitis,

the hurting more on leaning forward is usually a dead give away of an infection, though that can on occasion can be viral, ......... there is a nasty flu bug doing the rounds country wide ATM that comes with Sinus infection like symptoms, I was convinced I had another bacterial infection, but have been swabbed & checked out with ENT & it wasn't, so it might be something that will clear up on its own without anti B's...but worth asking your GP to do a Sinus swab to be sure, that way you are not taking anti B's you don't need, & will cut down on time & mke sure you get the right ones if you do need them

if you can take it, Ibruprofen will help the most as will reduce the swelling, & so relieve pressure, drink lots too & turn of any central heating in your bedroom over night, that will make Sinus swelling worse

hope you feel better soon

sounds like sinusitus

I meant sleeping with radiators on will make it worse